A High-End Portable Recorder at a Low-End Price!

When shopping for your next portable recorder, skip past the bells and whistles and get right to the features that count: built-in stereo microphones for high-quality audio capture, direct recording to microSD or microSDHC media, and a tiny footprint for point-and-shoot recording on the go. The pocket-sized Tascam DR05 provides these essential features and more, enabling musicians, songwriters, sound designers, and so forth to get 96 kHz/24-bit resolution audio anywhere.

High-Performance Audio Capture

With Tascam's DR05 digital recorder, it's easy to save your musical ideas, quickly record a jam, create demos, and round up found sounds. Put it in your pocket, turn it on, and record up to 17.5 hours of audio with the kind of clarity and low-noise performance that you'd expect to get from pricey studio gear, not a hundred-dollar recorder. Capture every little detail, from the loudest blasts to the most subtle whispers, with the DR05's pair of stereo condenser omnidirectional microphones, which can handle up to 125 dB SPL. Even though built-in mics are convenient, there will be times when you want to record other sources, and for that reason the DR05 sports a 1/8-inch stereo input for adding your own mic or line-level source. The DR05 saves in either MP3 or WAV format, direct to microSD or microSDHC media.

Its low-impedance design and separately built digital and analog circuit boards keep hiss and unwanted environmental noise in check, so you won't have to edit a recording to oblivion to make it sound good. The DR05 sounds good as it is. Clean, clear sound comes courtesy of a signal to noise ratio of over 92 dB, 0.05 percent total harmonic distortion (THD), and 20 Hz to 40 kHz response at 96 kHz/24-bit resolution.

The Easiest Digital Recorder on Hand

With a layout specifically designed for one-thumb operation, the handheld DR05 puts important functions like recording, adjusting levels, and the ability to delete takes and add markers right where you need them. Hold the DR05 in one hand and a drink in the other. Limiting, low-cut filtering, a built-in chromatic tuner, and other features are just a thumb's press away.

Recording features like Quick Menu and Peak Reduction provide no-fuss ways to fine-tune your audio files right on the recorder. The Peak Reduction setting automatically sets your recording level by listening to the input and adjusting levels for the best sound, without adding any distortion.

When transcribing an interview or learning a new song, take advantage of the recorder's Variable Speed Audition feature, which allows you to loop and slow down music without changing the pitch. And when you want to smooth out any sudden volume jumps, switch on the DR05's Level Align function, and get instant playback via the built-in speaker.

The Ultimate in Portability

The Tascam DR05 recorder runs on two AA batteries. Power it on and record up to 17 and a half hours of high-quality audio! If you're low on battery juice, connect the portable recorder to a computer via its USB 2.0 port or plug in the AC adapter and get all the external power you need.

Product Description

Tascam's DR-05 brings high-quality stereo recording to an easy-to-use portable powerhouse with a size and price that anyone can handle. The Tascam DR-05 records in MP3 or WAV format - including 96kHz/24-bit high-resolution audio - to microSD or microSDHC media. A pair of microphones handles up to 125dB SPL with the sensitivity to capture every detail. With recording features like Peak Reduction and Quick Menu, the Tascam DR-05 puts album-quality recording in the palm of your hand.

Premium-Quality Sound

Everything about the Tascam DR-05 is designed to get the best quality recordings of your music. A pair of built-in microphones withstands up to 125dB SPL - the volume of a jet plane from 200 feet away - yet still have the sensitivity to capture every detail of a performance. You can add your own microphone or line-level source through the 1/8" stereo input, including plug-in power for microphones that need it.

Internally, the Tascam DR-05's digital and analog circuit boards are built separately to increase noise performance, with a low-impedance design to further decrease hiss. A separate power supply is sent to the A/D and D/A converter for even better audio performance. The result is clean sound quality - over 92dB signal to noise ratio, under 0.05% total harmonic distortion and 20Hz to 40kHz response (-1/+3dB) at 96kHz/24-bit resolution.

Simple to Operate

The layout of the Tascam DR-05 has been revamped to be quick and easy to work with one thumb. Operations like recording, adjusting levels, deleting bad takes and adding markers are just a button press away. Dig deeper to find features like limiting, low cut filtering, a built-in chromatic tuner and more.

One feature that makes the Tascam DR-05 easy to operate is the Peak Reduction feature. This setting automatically sets your recording level by listening to the input and adjusting for the best level. Unlike Auto Gain settings, this one only goes down to prevent accidental distortion after a period of low level like a break. Peak Reduction works in rehearsal mode or in record, so if the performance is louder than the soundcheck you're still safe. Used with the built-in limiter, it's unlikely you'll distort your career-making live recording.

Other classic Tascam features are included, like Variable Speed Audition to loop and slow down music without changing the pitch - perfect for transcribing or learning music. A Level Align function can be switched on for playback, to smooth out any sudden volume jumps, and a built-in speaker is also provided. The two AA batteries are enough to power the recorder for 17 1/2 hours, even while recording at CD quality.

For musicians and recordists at any stage of their career, there's no easier way to get great-sounding recordings than Tascam's DR-05.

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
"Quality. Easy to use. Sound that will you!"

Sound:
I don't have a lot to compare to except for an old Sony digital voice recorder. I can say, however, that the sound of this DR-05 is an order of magnitude, maybe two orders of magnitude better. I am using this for digital sampling for music. The background noise is really low, and the sensitivity of the built in mics is high. I won't outgrow this for my musical use for quite some time. I was sort of frightened by the zero distortion, noise-free, high signal recordings I made. It's a little spooky.
Feature:
File transfer of the .wav file to the computer was easy as pie.
The no-frills, no-bells, no whistles approach is perfect for me.
I didn't want a lot of junky sub-par features that hindered my use of the device as a recorder. I just wanted an inexpensive recorder that could make high quality recordings. That's what this is.
My first attempt produced really weak sound until I figured out how to turn on the built in mic and set the recording level, so don't give up on this device right out of the box.
Ease of Use:
There is a bit of a learning curve. You don't just turn it on and use it without looking at the manual. But I found my answers and got up and running quickly after a quick scan of the manual.
Quality:
So far it seems pretty solid. I have only had it for one day.
I don't see the cheap plasticy look and feel that another reviewer complained about.
Value:
It seems like a pretty good buy. I am getting seemingly studio quality sound samples for just under $100. I don't expect to beat that.
Manufacturer Support:
N/A I have not contacted support.
The Wow Factor:
Yah, now that I have this to make digital samples for my music efforts, I would loath to be stuck with a lower quality tool.
Overall:
Not sure if I will outgrow this. Not sure if I even need to use an external mic. The build in condenser mics are great.

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
"Great little recorder at a great price!"

Sound:
This recorder sounds really good, I was very surprised. The sound of it played back really sounds professional, at a very reasonal price. I couldn't ask for a better product. With a good set of speakers it sounds amazing!!! I think for the price you can't beat it!
Feature:
I use it when I'm drumming, I just use the very simple features, I don't have alot of equipment to hook it up with so I'm very happy with just turning it on and recording.
Ease of Use:
Its very easy to operate and if you do have problems you can go to you tube and get a full demonstration, its pretty cool!
Quality:
I think its made very well, it seems very durable, and very light weight. Fits right in you shirt pocket!
Value:
I feel its worth what I paid for it, infact I think I got a pretty good deal.
Manufacturer Support:
I have not dealt with the company who made this product so i can't answer this question.
The Wow Factor:
I didn't know what I was getting until I purchased the product. The appeal of it is nice because its compact and easy to carry around.
Overall:
I hope to stay happy with my product, and if I was to loose it I would buy another just like it or the next model up from it.

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A temporary customer reference number is assigned to each customer only while they are shopping on zZounds.com. If you call our customer service department for assistance, this number makes it easier for us to answer any questions you have about products, services or purchases.

A temporary customer reference number is assigned to each customer only while they are shopping on zZounds.com. If you call our customer service department for assistance, this number makes it easier for us to answer any questions you have about products, services or purchases.

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